It is another week of accusation and counter-accusation between the police and the Nigerian Army as the police, on Wednesday alleged that soldiers from the 81 Division, Lagos, killed three persons and injured several others during the Isheri Day celebration in Isheri Olofin community, Ogun State.
The incident occurred barely a week after some soldiers shot dead three police operatives in Ibi, Taraba State.
It was gathered that violence broke out during the celebration which took place on the night of Monday, August 12 and soldiers were alleged to have been involved.
It was gathered that some soldiers accompanied one Tiri to the festival.
It was further gathered that Tiri, an indigene of the community, was logged in supremacy battle with another powerful family in the community over the control of the market.
Punch reports that some of the people at the festival reportedly resisted the soldiers, who attempted to make way for Tiri to pass in the midst of the crowd.
The issue was said to have degenerated to into a melee as the soldiers, who were allegedly trying to protect their principal, opened fire on the residents.
While two persons were said to have died on the spot, another resident, identified as Adelani, who sustained gunshot injuries in the leg, was rushed to hospital.
The soldiers were reported to have mounted a motorcycle and fled the scene.
However, some of the angry residents caught one of the soldiers, whom they assaulted by stoning him.
When the injured soldier’s colleagues rushed him to a hospital, they met Adelani at the medical facility.
The military men, it was learnt, ordered the doctor at gunpoint to treat their colleague, dragged out Adelani and allegedly stabbed him to death with the bayonet of their guns.
Confirming the incident, spokesman for Ogun State police Command, Mr. Abimbola Oyeyemi in a statement, said four men of the Nigerian Army, believed to be from Ikeja Cantonment and posted to Kara Market left their duty post to attend the event.
While at the event, he said a minor disagreement ensued with some youths which caused the soldiers to start shooting sporadically into the air.
“Credible information at the disposal of the command has it that on the said date, four men of the Nigerian Army believed to be from Ikeja Cantonment and posted to Kara Market, left their beats and went to Isheri Olofin, a border town between Lagos and Ogun State where the indigenes of the town were celebrating their annual ‘Isheri Day’.
“The Soldiers, on getting there, had a minor disagreement with some youths which made the soldiers to start shooting sporadically into the air. Consequently, one Damilare Adelani was hit by bullets and he died on the spot.
“The ugly incident infuriated the people at the scene who in turn reacted violently against the soldiers leaving one of the soldiers and three other civilians injured.
“The Soldiers quickly took their injured colleague to a hospital (name with-held) where they met one of the injured civilians being attended to by a medical doctor on duty. The statement from the officials of the hospital reveals that the Soldiers ordered the doctor on gun-point, to leave the injured man and attend to their colleague.
“They then dragged the patient out of the bed and subsequently stabbed him to death with a Bayonet attached to the muzzle of his rifle.”
Oyeyemi said the commissioner of police in the state, Mr. Bashir Makama, “has ordered a full scale investigation into the ‘Isheri Day’ shooting incident, with a view to bringing the suspects to justice.”
He added that the command had contacted the military authorities in Ogun State, as “efforts are in place to ensure that the suspected killer(s) are brought to book.”
But the army in its own press statement on Wednesday and signed by the assistant director, public relations, Major C. K. Abiade debunked the report.
He said there was no shooting and no fracas between the military personnel and the community.
Besides, he said no life was lost but one of the military personnel sustained an injury in the head while trying to intervene in a fracas between two warring cult groups in the community.
“The attention of 81 Division Nigerian Army has been drawn to a news story insinuating that soldiers of 9 Brigade on patrol were involved in the killing of three people in Isheri Olofin Community of Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State on August 13, 2019.
“The 81 Division hereby states that the patrol team in response to a distressed call, made a prompt intervention to forestall bloody clash among the ‘Isheri boys’ who are allegedly referred to as a dangerous cult group terrorizing the community.
“It is important to also state that there was no firing or exchange of fire between the troops and the alleged cult group throughout the period of the troops’ intervention. However, one of our soldiers got a deep cut on the head arising from the troops’ efforts to avert lethal conflict in the community.
“The wounded has been evacuated to Gentalbert Hospital for first aid treatment from where he was subsequently transferred to the Military Hospital. He is responding to treatment at the moment. Peace has since been restored to the affected area.
“Members of the public are requested to disregard the news indicating the so called killing of three people in the area. The news is baseless and is therefore fake.
“The General Officer Commanding 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. JO Irefin, once again assures the public of the resolve of the Division to protect lives and property of all law abiding citizens of the state and environs, while urging the people to continue with their legitimate routine activities unhindered,” said Abiade.
